This article is about the fictional race. For the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period state, see Yan (state); for the Chinese Sixteen Kingdoms state, see Later Yan.

The Yan are an alien race in the Wing Commander science fiction series.

In the 24th century, humanity's sphere of influence was expanding at a prodigious rate following the invention of the Hopper drive, the first faster-than-light (FTL) system developed, in 2304. It was not long before colonists discovered they were not alone in the universe. One of the first sentient alien races discovered were the Yan. Relations broke down, and the first interstellar war was fought, with humanity emerging victorious. The first fight against a non-Terran species, it would also be the last until the Kilrathi War.